Bag type garment finisher



July 18, 1950 A. R. WINTER 2,515,848

BAG TYPE GARMENT FINISHER Filed April 26, 1948 "QQQUGJ IDDDDB INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG TYPE GARMENT FINISHER Annis R. Winter; Fort Worth, Tex. Application April 26, 1948, Serial No. 23,355

3 Claims. (01. 223-67) This invention relates to garment finishers and has reference to a bag ,type steamer.

An object of the invention is to provide an efficient bag type-garment finisher which is economical in its construction, as well as one which.

an improved means for supplying heat to the interior of the inflated bag.

A particular object of theinve'ntion is to provide an inflated bag type garment finisher which may be readily reduced in height for shipping or storing.

Theseand other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:'

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bag type garment finisher embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical and broken sectional view of the front of the garment finisher illustrated in Figure 1 and having the bag thereof removed for better illustrating the construction.

Figure 3 is a broken sectional view of the blower which is a part of the present garment finisher,

and 1 Figure 4 is a broken front elevational view of the heat exchanger which is a part of the blower mechanism illustrated inFigure 3.

The form of the invention shown includes a rectangular housing I having a rearwardly extending horizontal blower duct 2 which encloses and supports an electric motor 3 having a fan 4 attached to the shaft 5 of the said motor. As shown in Figure 3,'the motor 3 is supported on angle irons 3 secured across the duct 2 and near the bottom portion thereof. The outer end of the duct2 is covered with a large wire screen 'I, thelatter being retained bymeans of a flanged ring 8 on the peripher'y'of the said duct.

The upper surface of the housing I has an annular opening 9 in the form of an upwardly extending and outwardly flanged ring ID. A bag ll of flexible porous material such as heavy canvas, which generally conforms in shape with and is larger than the garments I2 to be steamed, is secured to the housing ring In by means of a band l3 around, the said. ring and over the lower opened end of the said bag. As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the bag may be tied or otherwise closed, as shown at M.

Within the vertical center of the housing I,

there is a cylindrical tubular steamer l5 which extends upwardly through the housing opening 9 and into the lower portion of the bag ll. As shown in Figure 2, the tubular steamer I5 is 10; provided with numerous upwardly and outwardly directed ports l6 whereby steam entering the said steamer will be moved in the directions indicated by the arrows. There is a partition ll ;near the lower end of the steamer l5 to provide a moisture trap l8 below the said steamer. The lower end of the moisture trap I8 is partially closed and is connected with a downwardly directed pipe l9, which in turn is respectively connected with an elbow 20, a horizontally positioned check valve 2|, a nipple 22, a steam trap 23, and

a return pipe 24, connected with a boiler (not shown) or outlet. A horizontal steam supply pipe 25 is connected with the moisture trap l8 near the upper end of the latter. By means of elbows 26 and a connecting length of pipe 21, the moisture trap i8 is provided with a quick acting valve 28 which, by means of a tubular connection 29 and fittings 30 at each end thereof, is joined to the lower end of the tubular steamer IS. The valve 28 is operated by a foot pedal 3| outwardly of the housing I, which pedal is pivotally supported within the housing by means of a U-shaped bracket 32 mounted on the base of the said housing. The bracket 32 is provided with a horizontal pin 33 for engaging the pedal 3| which connects with a rod 34 pivotally connected with the lever 35 of the valve 28. V

'A heat exchanger 36 is positioned within the housing I and over the inner end of the blower duct 2 and is comprised of a length of metal tube 31 bent along equal lengths thereof as shown in Figure 4, and provided with transverse vertical fins 38 for releasing heat from the said tube to the interior of the housing I when air from the fan 4 is blown over the same. As shown in Figure 2, the one end of the heat exchanger tube 31 is connected with the supply pipe 25 and with the nipple 22 in the return line 24, said connections being made by means of fittings 39.

The motor 3 may be connected with and controlled by a switch pedal to positioned outwardly of the housing I, and since such connection may be readily made by anyone versed in the art,

the wiring between the said switch pedal 40 and the motor is not illustrated in the drawing.

As shown in Figure 1, vertical standards 4| and ii are mounted on the forward and rear upper central portions of the housing I. Each standard 4! and 42 is provided with holders 43 and 44, respectively, said holders each being comprised of substantially fiat members arcuate in lateral cross section for engaging and holding the lapped edges of the garment opening in contact with the bag II, and for similarly holding the splits of coat tails against the said bag. Both standards are provided with links 65 and 46 in their upper ends for pivctally engaging their respective holders 43 and M. The rear standard 4?. is comprised of telescoping members 41' and'd'8for adjusting the height of the rear holder 44, which adjustment is carried out by means of a set screw 49 in the outer member. 49 for engaging the inner member 41.

The upper endof the tubular steamer I5 is closed with the exception of upwardly and outwardly directed ports 50. The upper end of the steamer 15' is also provided with laterally projecting flanges 5'! extending from each side of the said steamer end and has an inverted U-shaped bracket 5'2 secured thereon bymeans of screws 53. An upwardly extending rod 54 is secured to the center of the bracket 52 and is in axial'alignment with the steamer 15. A transverse hanger 55 is provided at the upper end of the rod 5%, which hanger is positioned within the bag H for supporting the garments and bag during the operation of the finisher.

In operation, the bag I ti-s inflated by air from the fan t, and since the'said air passes over the heat exchanger 35, the air passing into the bag and outwardly therethrough is heated. The garmerit E2 to be finished isplaced on the bag in p the manner illustrated in Figure 1, and the holders ttend 25 are positioned for holding the garment in-placc. By-pressingthe steam valve pedal 31, steam is upwardly and outwardly directed from the steamer l5, thereby raising the nap on the saidgarment and pressing the same. thesteaming operation the valve 28 is closedby releasingthe pedal 31. The-resultinghot dry air within the bag H dries the garment I2.

The accumulatedlmoisture within the moisture trapiii-passes by the check valve 2! and into the Steamtrap-Zfii, from where is is discharged outwardly through the return pipe 2d.

The described form of the invention may be madei'n many wayswithin the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is: v

1. A garment finisher comprising: a housing having an opening in the upper surface thereof, a blower connected with the wall of the said housing, a heat exchanger withinthe said housing and over the inner end of the said blower, a porous bag formed to receive the garment to be finished thereon,. said bag having an opening at its lower end, said bag opening being secured over the said opening in the upper surface of the said housing, a relatively short tubular steamer having upwardly and outwardly directed ports therein, said steamer being vertically positioned above the said housing and extending upwardly After into the said bag, a steam supply line connected with the said steamer, a vertical rod detachably secured at the upper end of the said steamer, and a hanger secured at the upper end of the said rod and supporting the upper end of said bag.

2. A garment finisher comprising: a housing having an opening in the upper surface thereof, a blower connected with the wall of the said housing, a heat exchanger within the said housing and over the inner'end of thesaid blower, a porous bag formed to receive the said garment to be finished thereon, said bag having an opening at its lower end, said bag opening being secured over-the said opening in the upper surface of the said housing, a relatively short tubular steamer having upwardly and outwardly directed .p'ortsltherein, said steamer being vertically positionedabove the said housing and extending into the said bag, a moisture trap beneath the said steamer, means connecting the said moisture trap with the lower endof the saidsteamer, a steam supply line connected with'the said moisture trap, a vertical rod= detachably s'ecured to the upper end of the said steamer, and'a hanger secured at the upper-end of these-id rod and supporting the upper end of said bag.

3. A garment finisher comprising: a housing having an opening'in theup'per surface thereof, ablower connected with and located outwardly of the wall of said housing, a vertically disposed heat exchanger within said housing and inwardly positioned relative' tosaid blower, a porous bag formed toreceive the garment to be finished thereon, said bag having an opening in its'lower end, an opening in the upper surface of said housing and connected with said opening in said bag, a relat'r'vely'short tubular steamer having upwardly and outwardly directedports therein, said steamer being vertically positioned" above said housing and extending into the lower end of said bag, a moisture trap positioned below said steamer; a steam supply line connected with the upper end of said moisture trap, a pedal operatedva'lve also connected with the upper end of said moisture trap, a tubular means connecting saidpedalop'erated valve with the lower end of said tubular steamer; a return line connected with the lowerend of saidmoisture trap, said return line including acheck valve adjacent said lower end of said moisture trap and a steam trap connected with said return line outwardly of said check valve, means connecting the one endof saidheat exchanger with saidsupply line, and means connecting the remaining end'of said heat exchanger with said return line between said check valve and said steamer trap.

ANNIS R. WINTER.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in tlie file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,140,961 Lendle i Dec. 20, 1938 2,378,565 Locke et al. June 19, 1945 2,410,485 DuNah r Nov. 5, 1946 2,417,838 Paris Mar. 25, 1947 2,425,194 Lendle Aug. 5, I947 

